Week of Firsts

This week was Will's first at his new school, Shelton Park. The first day of school, Tuesday, was also his first time riding the school bus. Last year we lived too close to the school to qualify for the bus. He loves riding the bus, and the bus stop is right in front of our house! That is especially good because Will has never been an early bird and the bus comes at 7:40. Normally he doesn't wake up until after 8, so it's been early bedtime for him this week, and naps after school! He has been enjoying first grade. His favorite things to talk about are: music class, art class, PE, the playground, and his math work book. He has had nightly homework, but nowhere near as much as he did in California. Of course, it's only the first week, but I'm hoping they are not as homework crazy here!

Today was Emma's first dance class at her new studio, Encore Dance Center. It is within a mile of our house, so very convenient, with a good reputation in Hampton Roads. They do a big recital with costumes at the end of the spring semester, so that will be fun. Her class is a combined ballet/tap (30 minutes of each) for 3-4 year olds. I was happy to see that they use proper names for the ballet steps and did a lot of the same exercises she already learned. She was so happy there at her old studio, I'm glad this class is not too much different. Except for the tapping - which she thinks is great!

 Tonight was also supposed to be back to Awanas for Will and Emma's first night at Cubbies, but the church at which we were planning to attend didn't work out for us. We will try another nearby church for Awanas next Wednesday. I hope it works because both kids were so excited (and disappointed). We managed to salvage the evening anyway by playing at the neighborhood park before bed. Other firsts recently were getting into our new doctor (not so great - but so near to the house), and meeting 1 of Emma's new specialists, the pediatric orthopedist. She was great. We also decided to join our neighborhood church, Bayside Baptist, that we've been attending since July. It's a great place, and we're so glad to have found a church home so quickly, and so close to our house.